Macrocyclic compounds as hepatitis C virus inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: 
                         
which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/177,853, filed on May 13, 2009. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor compounds having antiviral activity against HCV and useful in the treatment of HCV infections. More particularly, the invention relates to macrocyclic compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods for using the same, as well as processes for making such compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

HCV is the principal cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis and is an increasingly severe public health problem both in the developed and developing world. It is estimated that the virus infects over 200 million people worldwide, surpassing the number of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by nearly five fold. HCV infected patients, due to the high percentage of individuals inflicted with chronic infections, are at an elevated risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma and terminal liver disease. HCV is the most prevalent cause of hepatocellular cancer and cause of patients requiring liver transplantations in the western world.

There are considerable barriers to the development of anti-HCV therapeutics, which include, but are not limited to, the persistence of the virus, the genetic diversity of the virus during replication in the host, the high incident rate of the virus developing drug-resistant mutants, and the lack of reproducible infectious culture systems and small-animal models for HCV replication and pathogenesis. In a majority of cases, given the mild course of the infection and the complex biology of the liver, careful consideration must be given to antiviral drugs, which are likely to have significant side effects.

Only two approved therapies for HCV infection are currently available. The original treatment regimen generally involves a 3-12 month course of intravenous interferon-α (IFN-α), while a new approved second-generation treatment involves co-treatment with IFN-α and the general antiviral nucleoside mimics like ribavirin. Both of these treatments suffer from interferon related side effects as well as low efficacy against HCV infections. There exists a need for the development of effective antiviral agents for treatment of HCV infection due to the poor tolerability and disappointing efficacy of existing therapies.

In a patient population where the majority of individuals are chronically infected and asymptomatic and the prognoses are unknown, an effective drug would desirably possess significantly fewer side effects than the currently available treatments. The hepatitis C non-structural protein-3 (NS3) is a proteolytic enzyme required for processing of the viral polyprotein and consequently viral replication. Despite the huge number of viral variants associated with HCV infection, the active site of the NS3 protease remains highly conserved thus making its inhibition an attractive mode of intervention. Recent success in the treatment of HIV with protease inhibitors supports the concept that the inhibition of NS3 is a key target in the battle against HCV.

HCV is a flaviridae type RNA virus. The HCV genome is enveloped and contains a single strand RNA molecule composed of circa 9600 base pairs. It encodes a polypeptide comprised of approximately 3010 amino acids.

The HCV polyprotein is processed by viral and host peptidase into 10 discreet peptides which serve a variety of functions. There are three structural proteins, C, E1 and E2. The P7 protein is of unknown function and is comprised of a highly variable sequence. There are six non-structural proteins. NS2 is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase that functions in conjunction with a portion of the NS3 protein. NS3 incorporates two catalytic functions (separate from its association with NS2): a serine protease at the N-terminal end, which requires NS4A as a cofactor, and an ATP-ase-dependent helicase function at the carboxyl terminus. NS4A is a tightly associated but non-covalent cofactor of the serine protease.

The NS3-NS4A protease is responsible for cleaving four sites on the viral polyprotein. The NS3-NS4A cleavage is autocatalytic, occurring in cis. The remaining three hydrolyses, NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A and NS5A-NS5B all occur in trans. NS3 is a serine protease which is structurally classified as a chymotrypsin-like protease. While the NS serine protease possesses proteolytic activity by itself, the HCV protease enzyme is not an efficient enzyme in terms of catalyzing polyprotein cleavage. It has been shown that a central hydrophobic region of the NS4A protein is required for this enhancement. The complex formation of the NS3 protein with NS4A seems necessary to the processing events, enhancing the proteolytic efficacy at all of the sites.

A general strategy for the development of antiviral agents is to inactivate virally encoded enzymes, including NS3, that are essential for the replication of the virus. Current efforts directed toward the discovery of NS3 protease inhibitors were reviewed by S. Tan, A. Pause, Y. Shi, N. Sonenberg, Hepatitis C Therapeutics: Current Status and Emerging Strategies, Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 1, 867-881 (2002).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to macrocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or prodrugs thereof, and methods of using the same to treat hepatitis C infection in a subject in need of such therapy. Compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds, salts, esters or prodrugs for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The present invention further features pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention (or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof) and another anti-HCV agent, such as interferon (e.g., alpha-interferon, beta-interferon, consensus interferon, pegylated interferon, or albumin or other conjugated interferon), ribavirin, amantadine, another HCV protease inhibitor, or an HCV polymerase, helicase or internal ribosome entry site inhibitor. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the present invention, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In one embodiment of the present invention there are disclosed compounds represented by Formulas I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof:

wherein,

-   -   A is absent or selected from —C(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —C(═N—OR₁)— and         —C(═N—CN)—;     -   Z₂₀₁ is absent or selected from —C₁-C₈ alkylene, —C₂-C₈         alkenylene, or —C₂-C₈ alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈         alkylene, including but not limited to halogenated —C₁-C₈         alkylene, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, including but not         limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈ alkenylene or substituted —C₂-C₈         alkynylene, including but not limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈         alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected         from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or —C₃-C₁₂         cycloalkenylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, S or N; substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene,         including but not limited to halogenated —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene,         and substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene, including but not         limited to halogenated —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene each containing         0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; aryl,         substituted aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;     -   M is absent or selected from O, S, SO, SO₂ and NR₁;     -   L₁₀₁ is absent or selected from —C₁-C₈ alkylene, —C₂-C₈         alkenylene, or —C₂-C₈ alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈         alkylene, including but not limited to halogenated —C₁-C₈         alkylene, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, including but not         limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈ alkenylene or substituted —C₂-C₈         alkynylene, including but not limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈         alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected         from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or —C₃-C₁₂         cycloalkenylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, S or N; substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene,         including but not limited to halogenated —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene,         and substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene, including but not         limited to halogenated —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene each containing         0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N;     -   V is absent or selected from O, S, S(O), S(O)₂ and NR₁; wherein         R₁ is selected at each occurrence from the group consisting of:     -   (i) hydrogen;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;     -   Z₁₀₁ is absent or selected from aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;     -   X is selected from the group consisting of:     -   (1) oxygen; and     -   (2) sulfur;     -   (3) NR₁; where R₁ is as previously defined above; and     -   (4) —O—NH—;     -   Y is absent or is selected from the group consisting of:     -   (i) —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NH—, —S(O)₂—, —S(O)₂NH—;     -   (ii) —C₁-C₆ alkyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected         from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or more         substituents selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) —C₂-C₆ alkenyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or         more substituents selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iv) —C₂-C₆ alkynyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or         more substituents selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl; and     -   (v) —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl,         heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl;         W is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted         aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, cycloalkyl,         substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted         heterocycloalkyl; each of which is optionally fused with one or         more aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl,         cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl;         substituted heterocycloalkyl;     -   R and R′ are each independently selected from the group         consisting of:     -   (i) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, including but not limited to         halogenated —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, including         but not limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈ alkenyl or substituted         —C₂-C₈ alkynyl, including but not limited to halogenated —C₂-C₈         alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from         O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂         cycloalkyl; —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkyl, or substituted —C₄-C₁₂         alkylcycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂         cycloalkenyl; —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₄-C₁₂         alkylcycloalkenyl;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iv) hydrogen; deuterium;     -   G is selected from —OH, —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, and NR₃R₄;     -   R₂ is selected from:     -   (i) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (ii) heterocycloalkyl; substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iii) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N,         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; heterocylic; substituted         heterocyclic;     -   R₃ and R₄ are independently selected from:     -   (i) hydrogen;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; heterocyclic, or substituted         heterocyclic;     -   alternatively, R₃ and R₄ are taken together with the nitrogen         they are attached to form a heterocyclic or substituted         heterocyclic;     -   U is absent or a halogen atom, preferably F, Cl or Br;     -   U1 is absent or a halogen atom, preferably F, Cl or Br;     -   U2 is absent or a halogen atom, preferably F, Cl or Br;     -   m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and     -   m′ is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

-   provided that when X is oxygen and Y is absent, W is not

wherein Q and T are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a carbocyclic moiety or a heterocyclic moiety, such as aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, or substituted heterocylic; or Q and T together form a C₂-C₈-alkylene group or a C₂-C₈-heteroalkylene group;

-   further provided that when X is oxygen, Y is absent and Z₁₀₁ is     absent, W is not

wherein R₁₀₁ and R₁₀₂ are independently selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) hydrogen, halogen, CN, CF₃, N₃, NO₂, OR₁, SR₁, SO₂R₂,         —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, NR₃R₄, CO₂R₁, COR₁, CONR₁R₂,         N(R₁)COR₂;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;

-   Q′ is absent, or selected from alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene,     —O—, —S—, —NR₁—, —C(O)NR₁—, or —C(O)—; and

-   T′ is selected from the groups consisting of:     -   (i) hydrogen;     -   (ii) CN;     -   (iii) N₃;     -   (iv) halogen;     -   (v) —NH—N═CHR₁;     -   (vi) aryl, substituted aryl;     -   (vii) heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl;     -   (viii) —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl,         heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl;     -   (ix) —C₁-C₆ alkyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected         from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or more         substituent selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;     -   (x) —C₂-C₆ alkenyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected         from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or more         substituent selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl; and     -   (xi) —C₂-C₆ alkynyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, S, or N, optionally substituted with one or         more substituent selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl,         heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl.

In another embodiment, the present invention features pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof. In still another embodiment of the present invention there are disclosed pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. In yet another embodiment of the invention are methods of treating a hepatitis C infection in a subject in need of such treatment with said pharmaceutical compositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula I as described above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula II:

-   -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof,         alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable         carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, W         Y, X, and G are as defined in Formulas I.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where Q₁ is selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) hydrogen;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;

-   Q₂ is selected from the group consisting of:     -   (i) hydrogen, halogen, CN, CF₃, N₃, NO₂, OR₁, SR₁, SO₂R₂,         —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, NR₃R₄, CO₂R₁, COR₁, CONR₁R₂,         N(R₁)COR₂; where R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as previously defined;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl;     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;     -   or Q₁ and Q₂ taken together with the carbon atoms to which they         are attached to form a carbocyclic moiety or a heterocyclic         moiety. The carbocyclic or heterocyclic moiety can be selected         from aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,         cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted         cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, or substituted heterocylic;

-   and where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in     Formula I.     Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by     Formula IV:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where X₁-X₄ are independently selected from —CR₅ and N, wherein R₅ is independently selected from:

-   -   (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃;     -   (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH;     -   (iii) NR₃R₄;     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;     -   (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;         and     -   (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl;         where R₃, R₄, R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as         previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula V:

-   -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof,         alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable         carrier or excipient, where Y₁-Y₃ are independently selected         from CR₅, N, NR₅, S and O; where R₅, R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V,         Z₁₀₁ and G are as previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula VI:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, Q₁, Q₂ and G are as previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula VII:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, X₁, X₂, X₃, X₄ and G are as previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula VIII:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and G are as previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula IX:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where Q₃ and Q₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) hydrogen, halogen, CN, CF₃, N₃, NO₂, OR₁, SR₁, SO₂R₂,         —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, NR₃R₄, CO₂R₁, COR₁, CONR₁R₂,         N(R₁)COR₂; where R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as previously defined;     -   (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;     -   (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl;     -   (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each         containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N;         substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or         substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3         heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or         substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl;     -   or Q₃ and Q₄ taken together with the carbon atoms to which they         are attached to form a carbocyclic moiety or a heterocyclic         moiety. The carbocyclic or heterocyclic moiety can be selected         from aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,         cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted         cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, or substituted heterocylic;     -   and where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined         in Formula I.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula X:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, X₁, X₂, X₃, X₄ and G are as previously defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula XI:

-   -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof,         alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable         carrier or excipient, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁,         Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and G are as previously defined.

Representative compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following compounds (Table 1) according to Formula XII wherein R, M-L, Ar², Ar¹ and G are delineated for each example in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Example # R M-L Ar² Ar¹ R′ G  1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6.

 7.

OH  8.

 9.

 10.

 11.

 12.

 13.

 14.

 15.

 16.

 17.

 18.

 19.

 20.

 21.

 22.

 23.

 24.

 25.

 26.

 27.

 28.

 29.

 30.

 31.

 32.

OH  33.

 34.

 35.

 36.

 37.

 38.

 39.

 40.

 41.

 42.

 43.

 44.

 45.

 46.

 47.

 48.

 49.

 50.

 51.

 52.

 53.

 54.

 55.

 56.

 57.

 58.

 59.

 60.

OH  61.

 62.

 63.

 64.

 65.

 66.

 67.

 68.

 69.

 70.

 71.

 72.

 73.

 74.

 75.

 76.

 77.

 78.

 79.

 80.

 81.

 82.

 83.

 84.

 85.

 86.

 87.

 88.

 89.

 90.

 91.

 92.

 93.

 94.

OH  95.

 96.

 97.

 98.

 99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

118.

119.

OH 120.

121.

122.

123.

124.

125.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

134.

135.

136.

137.

138.

139.

140.

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

147.

OH 148.

149.

150.

151.

152.

153.

154.

155.

156.

157.

158.

159.

160.

161.

162.

163.

164.

165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172.

173.

174.

175.

176.

177.

178.

179.

180.

181.

OH 182.

183.

184.

185.

186.

187.

188.

189.

190.

191.

192.

193.

194.

195.

196.

197.

198.

199.

200.

201.

202.

203.

204.

205.

206.

OH 207.

208.

209.

210.

211.

212.

213.

214.

215.

216.

217.

218.

219.

220.

221.

222.

223.

224.

225.

226.

227.

228.

229.

230.

231.

232.

233.

234.

OH 235.

236.

237.

238.

239.

240.

241.

242.

243.

244.

245.

246.

247.

248.

249.

250.

251.

252.

253.

254.

255.

256.

257.

258.

259.

260.

261.

262.

263.

264.

265.

266.

267.

268.

OH 269.

270.

271.

272.

273.

274.

275.

276.

277.

278.

279.

280.

281.

282.

283.

284.

285.

286.

287.

288.

289.

290.

291.

292.

293.

OH 294.

295.

296.

297.

298.

299.

300.

301.

302.

303.

304.

305.

306.

307.

308.

309.

310.

311.

312.

313.

314.

315.

316.

317.

318.

319.

320.

321.

OH 322.

323.

324.

325.

326.

327.

328.

329.

330.

331.

332.

333.

334.

335.

336.

337.

338.

339.

340.

341.

342.

343.

344.

345.

346.

347.

348.

349.

350.

351.

352.

353.

354.

355.

OH 356.

357.

358.

359.

360.

361.

362.

363.

364.

365.

366.

367.

368.

369.

370.

371.

372.

373.

374.

375.

376.

377.

378.

379.

380.

OH 381.

382.

383.

384.

385.

386.

387.

388.

389.

390.

391.

392.

393.

394.

395.

396.

397.

398.

399.

400.

401.

402.

403.

404.

405.

406.

407.

408.

OH 409.

410.

411.

412.

413.

414.

415.

416.

417.

418.

419.

420.

421.

422.

423.

424.

425.

426.

427.

428.

429.

430.

431.

432.

433.

434.

435.

436.

437.

438.

439.

440.

441.

442.

OH 443.

444.

445.

446.

447.

448.

449.

450.

451.

452.

453.

454.

455.

456.

457.

458.

459.

460.

461.

462.

463.

464.

465.

466.

467.

OH 468.

469.

470.

471.

472.

473.

474.

475.

476.

477.

478.

479.

480.

481.

482.

483.

484.

485.

486.

487.

488.

489.

490.

491.

492.

493.

494.

495.

OH 496.

497.

498.

499.

500.

501.

502.

503.

504.

505.

506.

507.

508.

509.

510.

511.

512.

513.

514.

515.

516.

517.

518.

519.

520.

521.

522.

523.

OH 524.

OH 525.

OH 526.

OH 526.

OH 528.

OH 529.

530.

531.

532.

533.

534.

535.

536.

537.

538.

539.

540.

541.

542.

543.

544.

545.

546.

547.

Absent

548.

Absent

549.

Absent

550.

Absent

551.

Absent

552.

Absent

553.

Absent

554.

Absent

555.

Absent

556.

Absent

557.

Absent

558.

Absent

559.

Absent

560.

Absent

561.

Absent

562.

Absent

563.

Absent

564.

Absent

565.

Absent

566.

Absent

567.

Absent

568.

Absent

569.

Absent

570.

Absent

571.

Absent

572.

Absent

573.

Absent

574.

Absent

575.

Absent

576.

Absent

577.

Absent

578.

Absent

579.

Absent

580.

Absent

581.

Absent

582.

Absent

583.

Absent

584.

Absent

585.

Absent

586.

Absent

587.

Absent

588.

Absent

589.

Absent

590.

Absent

591.

Absent

592.

Absent

593.

Absent

594.

Absent

595.

Absent

596.

Absent

597.

Absent

598.

Absent

599.

Absent

600.

Absent

601.

Absent

602.

Absent

603.

Absent

604.

Absent

605.

Absent

606.

Absent

607.

Absent

608.

Absent

609.

Absent

610.

Absent

611.

Absent

612.

Absent

613.

Absent

614.

Absent

615.

Absent

616.

Absent

617.

Absent

618.

Absent

619.

Absent

620.

Absent

621.

Absent

622.

Absent

623.

Absent

624.

Absent

625.

Absent

626.

Absent

627.

628.

629.

630.

631.

632.

633.

634.

635.

636.

637.

638.

639.

640.

641.

642.

643.

644.

645.

646.

647.

648.

649.

650.

651.

652.

653.

654.

655.

656.

657.

658.

659.

Absent

660.

Absent

661.

Absent

662.

Absent

663.

Absent

664.

Absent

665.

Absent

666.

Absent

667.

Absent

668.

Absent

669.

Absent

670.

Absent

671.

Absent

672.

Absent

673.

Absent

674.

Absent

675.

Absent

676.

Absent

677.

Absent

678.

Absent

679.

Absent

680.

Absent

681.

Absent

682.

Absent

683.

Absent

684.

Absent

685.

Absent

686.

Absent

687.

Absent

688.

Absent

689.

Absent

690.

Absent

691.

Absent

692.

Absent

693.

Absent

694.

Absent

695.

Absent

696.

Absent

697.

Absent

698.

Absent

699.

Absent

700.

Absent

701.

Absent

702.

Absent

703.

Absent

704.

Absent

705.

Absent

706.

Absent

707.

Absent

708.

Absent

709.

Absent

710.

Absent

711.

Absent

712.

Absent

713.

Absent

714.

Absent

715.

Absent

716.

Absent

717.

Absent

718.

Absent

719.

Absent

720.

Absent

721.

Absent

722.

Absent

723.

Absent

724.

Absent

725.

Absent

726.

Absent

727.

Absent

728.

Absent

729.

Absent

730.

Absent

731.

Absent

732.

Absent

733.

Absent

734.

Absent

735.

Absent

736.

Absent

737.

Absent

738.

Absent

739.

Absent

740.

Absent

741.

Absent

742.

Absent

743.

Absent

744.

Absent

745.

Absent

746.

Absent

747.

Absent

748.

Absent

749.

Absent

750.

Absent

751.

Absent

752.

Absent

753.

Absent

754.

Absent

755.

Absent

756.

Absent

757.

Absent

758.

Absent

759.

Absent

760.

Absent

761.

Absent

762.

Absent

763.

764.

765.

766.

767.

768.

769.

770.

771.

772.

773.

774.

775.

776.

777.

778.

779.

780.

781.

782.

783.

784.

785.

786.

787.

788.

789.

790.

791.

792.

793.

794.

795.

Absent

796.

Absent

797.

Absent

798.

Absent

799.

Absent

800.

Absent

801.

Absent

802.

Absent

803.

Absent

804.

Absent

805.

Absent

806.

Absent

807.

Absent

808.

Absent

809.

Absent

810.

Absent

811.

Absent

812.

Absent

813.

Absent

814.

Absent

815.

Absent

816.

Absent

817.

Absent

818.

Absent

819.

820.

821.

822.

823.

824.

825.

826.

827.

828.

829.

830.

831.

832.

833.

834.

835.

836.

837.

838.

839.

Absent

840.

Absent

841.

Absent

842.

Absent

843.

Absent

844.

Absent

845.

Absent

846.

Absent

847.

Absent

848.

Absent

849.

Absent

850.

Absent

851.

Absent

852.

Absent

853.

Absent

854.

Absent

855.

Absent

856.

Absent

857.

Absent

858.

Absent

859.

Absent

860.

Absent

861.

Absent

862.

Absent

863.

Absent

864.

Absent

865.

Absent

866.

Absent

867.

Absent

868.

Absent

869.

Absent

870.

Absent

871.

Absent

872.

Absent

873.

Absent

874.

Absent

875.

Absent

876.

Absent

877.

Absent

878.

Absent

879.

Absent

880.

Absent

881.

Absent

882.

Absent

883.

Absent

884.

Absent

885.

Absent

886.

Absent

887.

Absent

888.

Absent

889.

Absent

890.

Absent

891.

Absent

892.

Absent

893.

Absent

894.

Absent

895.

Absent

896.

Absent

897.

Absent

898.

Absent

899.

Absent

900.

Absent

901.

Absent

902.

Absent

903.

Absent

904.

Absent

905.

Absent

906.

Absent

907.

Absent

908.

Absent

909.

Absent

910.

Absent

911.

Absent

912.

Absent

913.

Absent

914.

Absent

915.

Absent

916.

Absent

917.

Absent

918.

Absent

The present invention also features pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof.

Compounds of the present invention can be administered as the sole active pharmaceutical agent, or used in combination with one or more agents to treat or prevent hepatitis C infections or the symptoms associated with HCV infection. Other agents to be administered in combination with a compound or combination of compounds of the invention include therapies for disease caused by HCV infection that suppresses HCV viral replication by direct or indirect mechanisms. These include agents such as host immune modulators (for example, interferon-alpha, pegylated interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, CpG oligonucleotides and the like), or antiviral compounds that inhibit host cellular functions such as inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (for example, ribavirin and the like). Also included are cytokines that modulate immune function. Also included are vaccines comprising HCV antigens or antigen adjuvant combinations directed against HCV. Also included are agents that interact with host cellular components to block viral protein synthesis by inhibiting the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiated translation step of HCV viral replication or to block viral particle maturation and release with agents targeted toward the viroporin family of membrane proteins such as, for example, HCV P7 and the like. Other agents to be administered in combination with a compound of the present invention include any agent or combination of agents that inhibit the replication of HCV by targeting proteins of the viral genome involved in the viral replication. These agents include but are not limited to other inhibitors of HCV RNA dependent RNA polymerase such as, for example, nucleoside type polymerase inhibitors described in WO0190121(A2), or U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,587 B1 or WO0160315 or WO0132153 or non-nucleoside inhibitors such as, for example, benzimidazole polymerase inhibitors described in EP 1162196 A1 or WO0204425 or inhibitors of HCV protease such as, for example, peptidomimetic type inhibitors such as BILN2061 and the like or inhibitors of HCV helicase.

Other agents to be administered in combination with a compound of the present invention include any agent or combination of agents that inhibit the replication of other viruses for co-infected individuals. These agent include but are not limited to therapies for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection such as, for example, adefovir, lamivudine, and tenofovir or therapies for disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection such as, for example, protease inhibitors: ritonavir, lopinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, tipranavir, TMC-114, fosamprenavir; reverse transcriptase inhibitors: zidovudine, lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine, tenofovir, zalcitabine, abacavir, efavirenz, nevirapine, delavirdine, TMC-125; integrase inhibitors: L-870812, S-1360, or entry inhibitors: enfuvirtide (T-20), T-1249.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is directed to a method for treating or preventing an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a host immune modulator and a second antiviral agent, or a combination thereof, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof. Examples of the host immune modulator are, but not limited to, interferon-alpha, pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, a cytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and an adjuvant, and said second antiviral agent inhibits replication of HCV either by inhibiting host cellular functions associated with viral replication or by targeting proteins of the viral genome.

Further aspect of the invention is directed to a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment an agent or combination of agents that treat or alleviate symptoms of HCV infection including cirrhosis and inflammation of the liver, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents that treat patients for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof. An agent that treats patients for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection may be for example, but not limited thereto, L-deoxythymidine, adefovir, lamivudine or tenfovir, or any combination thereof. Example of the RNA-containing virus includes, but not limited to, hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents that treat patients for disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof. The agent that treats patients for disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may include, but is not limited thereto, ritonavir, lopinavir, indinavir, nelfmavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, tipranavir, TMC-114, fosamprenavir, zidovudine, lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine, tenofovir, zalcitabine, abacavir, efavirenz, nevirapine, delavirdine, TMC-125, L-870812, S-1360, enfuvirtide (T-20) or T-1249, or any combination thereof. Example of the RNA-containing virus includes, but not limited to, hepatitis C virus (HCV). In addition, the present invention provides the use of a compound or a combination of compounds of the invention, or a therapeutically acceptable salt form, stereoisomer, or tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof, and one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a host immune modulator and a second antiviral agent, or a combination thereof, to prepare a medicament for the treatment of an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus in a patient, particularly hepatitis C virus. Examples of the host immune modulator are, but not limited to, interferon-alpha, pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, a cytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and an adjuvant, and said second antiviral agent inhibits replication of HCV either by inhibiting host cellular functions associated with viral replication or by targeting proteins of the viral genome.

When used in the above or other treatments, combination of compound or compounds of the invention, together with one or more agents as defined herein above, can be employed in pure form or, where such forms exist, in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof. Alternatively, such combination of therapeutic agents can be administered as a pharmaceutical composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of the compound or combination of compounds of interest, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, prodrugs, or salts of the prodrug, in combination with one or more agents as defined hereinabove, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be used for inhibiting the replication of an RNA-containing virus, particularly Hepatitis C virus (HCV), by contacting said virus with said pharmaceutical composition. In addition, such compositions are useful for the treatment or prevention of an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus, particularly Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Hence, further aspect of the invention is directed to a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus, particularly a hepatitis C virus (HCV), comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound or combination of compounds of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, or tautomer, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or combination thereof, one or more agents as defined hereinabove, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents can be formulated as separate compositions which are given at the same time or within a predetermined period of time, or the therapeutic agents can be given as a single unit dosage form.

Antiviral agents contemplated for use in such combination therapy include agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal, including but not limited to agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal. Such agents can be selected from another anti-HCV agent; an HIV inhibitor; an HAV inhibitor; and an HBV inhibitor.

Other anti-HCV agents include those agents that are effective for diminishing or preventing the progression of hepatitis C related symptoms or disease. Such agents include but are not limited to immunomodulatory agents, inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease, other inhibitors of HCV polymerase, inhibitors of another target in the HCV life cycle and other anti-HCV agents, including but not limited to ribavirin, amantadine, levovirin and viramidine.

Immunomodulatory agents include those agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to enhance or potentiate the immune system response in a mammal. Immunomodulatory agents include, but are not limited to, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors such as VX-497 (merimepodib, Vertex Pharmaceuticals), class I interferons, class II interferons, consensus interferons, asialo-interferons pegylated interferons and conjugated interferons, including but not limited to interferons conjugated with other proteins including but not limited to human albumin. Class I interferons are a group of interferons that all bind to receptor type I, including both naturally and synthetically produced class I interferons, while class II interferons all bind to receptor type II. Examples of class I interferons include, but are not limited to, [alpha]-, [beta]-, [delta]-, [omega]-, and [tau]-interferons, while examples of class II interferons include, but are not limited to, [gamma]-interferons.

Inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease include agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibit the function of HCV NS3 protease in a mammal Inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease include, but are not limited to, those compounds described in WO 99/07733, WO 99/07734, WO 00/09558, WO 00/09543, WO 00/59929, WO 03/064416, WO 03/064455, WO 03/064456, WO 2004/030670, WO 2004/037855, WO 2004/039833, WO 2004/101602, WO 2004/101605, WO 2004/103996, WO 2005/028501, WO 2005/070955, WO 2006/000085, WO 2006/007700 and WO 2006/007708 (all by Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 02/060926, WO 03/053349, WO03/099274, WO 03/099316, WO 2004/032827, WO 2004/043339, WO 2004/094452, WO 2005/046712, WO 2005/051410, WO 2005/054430 (all by BMS), WO 2004/072243, WO 2004/093798, WO 2004/113365, WO 2005/010029 (all by Enanta), WO 2005/037214 (Intermune) and WO 2005/051980 (Schering), and the candidates identified as VX-950, ITMN-191 and SCH 503034.

Inhibitors of HCV polymerase include agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibit the function of an HCV polymerase. Such inhibitors include, but are not limited to, non-nucleoside and nucleoside inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase. Examples of inhibitors of HCV polymerase include but are not limited to those compounds described in: WO 02/04425, WO 03/007945, WO 03/010140, WO 03/010141, WO 2004/064925, WO 2004/065367, WO 2005/080388 and WO 2006/007693 (all by Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 2005/049622 (Japan Tobacco), WO 2005/014543 (Japan Tobacco), WO 2005/012288 (Genelabs), WO 2004/087714 (IRBM), WO 03/101993 (Neogenesis), WO 03/026587 (BMS), WO 03/000254 (Japan Tobacco), and WO 01/47883 (Japan Tobacco), and the clinical candidates XTL-2125, HCV 796, R-1626 and NM 283.

Inhibitors of another target in the HCV life cycle include agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of HCV other than by inhibiting the function of the HCV NS3 protease. Such agents may interfere with either host or HCV viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of HCV. Inhibitors of another target in the HCV life cycle include, but are not limited to, entry inhibitors, agents that inhibit a target selected from a helicase, a NS2/3 protease and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and agents that interfere with the function of other viral targets including but not limited to an NS5A protein and an NS4B protein.

It can occur that a patient may be co-infected with hepatitis C virus and one or more other viruses, including but not limited to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thus also contemplated is combination therapy to treat such co-infections by co-administering a compound according to the present invention with at least one of an HIV inhibitor, an HAV inhibitor and an HBV inhibitor.

According to yet another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may further comprise inhibitor(s) of other targets in the HCV life cycle, including, but not limited to, helicase, polymerase, metalloprotease, and internal ribosome entry site (IRES).

According to another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may further comprise another anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or anti-cancer agent, or an immune modulator, or another therapeutic agent.

According to still another embodiment, the present invention includes methods of treating viral infection such as, but not limited to, hepatitis C infections in a subject in need of such treatment by administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof.

According to a further embodiment, the present invention includes methods of treating hepatitis C infections in a subject in need of such treatment by administering to said subject an anti-HCV virally effective amount or an inhibitory amount of a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

An additional embodiment of the present invention includes methods of treating biological samples by contacting the biological samples with the compounds of the present invention.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention is a process of making any of the compounds delineated herein employing any of the synthetic means delineated herein.

The cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor used in this invention is expected to inhibit metabolism of the compounds of the invention. Therefore, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor would be in an amount effective to inhibit metabolism of the protease inhibitor. Accordingly, the CYP inhibitor is administered in an amount such that the bioavailability of the protease inhibitor is increased in comparison to the bioavailability in the absence of the CYP inhibitor.

In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for improving the pharmacokinetics of compounds of the invention. The advantages of improving the pharmacokinetics of drugs are recognized in the art (US 2004/0091527; US 2004/0152625 and US 2004/0091527). Accordingly, one embodiment of this invention provides a method for administering an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and a compound of the invention. Another embodiment of this invention provides a method for administering a compound of the invention and an inhibitor of isozyme 3A4 (“CYP3A4”), isozyme 2C19 (“CYP2C19”), isozyme 2D6 (“CYP2D6”), isozyme 1A2 (“CYP1A2”), isozyme 2C9 (“CYP2C9”), or isozyme 2E1 (“CYP2E1”). In a preferred embodiment, the CYP inhibitor preferably inhibits CYP3A4. Any CYP inhibitor that improves the pharmacokinetics of the relevant NS3/4A protease may be used in a method of this invention. These CYP inhibitors include, but are not limited to, ritonavir (WO 94/14436), ketoconazole, troleandomycin, 4-methylpyrazole, cyclosporin, clomethiazole, cimetidine, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, nefazodone, sertraline, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, delavirdine, erythromycin, VX-944, and VX-497. Preferred CYP inhibitors include ritonavir, ketoconazole, troleandomycin, 4-methylpyrazole, cyclosporin, and clomethiazole.

It will be understood that the administration of the combination of the invention by means of a single patient pack, or patient packs of each formulation, containing within a package insert instructing the patient to the correct use of the invention is a desirable additional feature of this invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention is a pack comprising at least a compound of the invention and a CYP inhibitor of the invention and an information insert containing directions on the use of the combination of the invention. In an alternative embodiment of this invention, the pharmaceutical pack further comprises one or more of additional agent as described herein. The additional agent or agents may be provided in the same pack or in separate packs.

Another aspect of this invention is a packaged kit for a patient to use in the treatment of HCV infection or in the prevention of HCV infection, comprising: a single or a plurality of pharmaceutical formulation of each pharmaceutical component; a container housing the pharmaceutical formulation (s) during storage and prior to administration; and instructions for carrying out drug administration in a manner effective to treat or prevent HCV infection.

Accordingly, this invention provides kits for the simultaneous or sequential administration of a NS3/4A protease inhibitor of the invention and a CYP inhibitor (and optionally an additional agent) or derivatives thereof are prepared in a conventional manner. Typically, such a kit will comprise, e.g. a composition of each inhibitor and optionally the additional agent (s) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (and in one or in a plurality of pharmaceutical formulations) and written instructions for the simultaneous or sequential administration.

In another embodiment, a packaged kit is provided that contains one or more dosage forms for self administration; a container means, preferably sealed, for housing the dosage forms during storage and prior to use; and instructions for a patient to carry out drug administration. The instructions will typically be written instructions on a package insert, a label, and/or on other components of the kit, and the dosage form or forms are as described herein. Each dosage form may be individually housed, as in a sheet of a metal foil-plastic laminate with each dosage form isolated from the others in individual cells or bubbles, or the dosage forms may be housed in a single container, as in a plastic bottle. The present kits will also typically include means for packaging the individual kit components, i.e., the dosage forms, the container means, and the written instructions for use. Such packaging means may take the form of a cardboard or paper box, a plastic or foil pouch, etc.

DEFINITIONS

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification and claims, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term “viral infection” refers to the introduction of a virus into cells or tissues, e.g., hepatitis C virus (HCV). In general, the introduction of a virus is also associated with replication. Viral infection may be determined by measuring virus antibody titer in samples of a biological fluid, such as blood, using, e.g., enzyme immunoassay. Other suitable diagnostic methods include molecular based techniques, such as RT-PCR, direct hybrid capture assay, nucleic acid sequence based amplification, and the like. A virus may infect an organ, e.g., liver, and cause disease, e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis, chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The term “anti-cancer agent” refers to a compound or drug capable of preventing or inhibiting the advancement of cancer. Examples of such agents include cis-platin, actinomycin D, doxorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide, amsacrine, mitoxantrone, tenipaside, taxol, colchicine, cyclosporin A, phenothiazines or thioxantheres.

The term “anti-fungal agent” shall used to describe a compound which may be used to treat a fungus infection other than 3-AP, 3-AMP or prodrugs of 3-AP and 3-AMP according to the present invention. Anti-fungal agents according to the present invention include, for example, terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, clotrimazole, griseofulvin, nystatin, tolnaftate, caspofungin, amphotericin B, liposomal amphotericin B, and amphotericin B lipid complex.

The term “antibacterial agent” refers to both naturally occurring antibiotics produced by microorganisms to suppress the growth of other microorganisms, and agents synthesized or modified in the laboratory which have either bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity, e.g., β-lactam antibacterial agents, glycopeptides, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides. In general, if an antibacterial agent is bacteriostatic, it means that the agent essentially stops bacterial cell growth (but does not kill the bacteria); if the agent is bacteriocidal, it means that the agent kills the bacterial cells (and may stop growth before killing the bacteria).

The term “immune modulator” refers to any substance meant to alter the working of the humoral or cellular immune system of a subject. Such immune modulators include inhibitors of mast cell-mediated inflammation, interferons, interleukins, prostaglandins, steroids, cortico-steroids, colony-stimulating factors, chemotactic factors, etc.

The term “C₁-C₆ alkyl,” or “C₁-C₈ alkyl,” as used herein, refer to saturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing between one and six, or one and eight carbon atoms, respectively. Examples of C₁-C₆ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl radicals; and examples of C₁-C₈ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, heptyl, octyl radicals.

The term “C₂-C₆ alkenyl,” or “C₂-C₈ alkenyl,” as used herein, denote a group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety, wherein the hydrocarbon moiety has at least one carbon-carbon double bond and contains from two to six, or two to eight carbon atoms, respectively. Alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, 1-methyl-2-buten-1-yl, heptenyl, octenyl and the like.

The term “C₂-C₆ alkynyl,” or “C₂-C₈ alkynyl,” as used herein, denote a group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety, wherein the hydrocarbon moiety has at least one carbon-carbon triple bond and contains from two to six, or two to eight carbon atoms, respectively. Representative alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, heptynyl, octynyl and the like.

The term “C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl”, or “C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl,” as used herein, denotes a group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring, where the saturated carbocyclic ring compound has from 3 to 8, or from 3 to 12, ring atoms, respectively. Examples of C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl and cyclooctyl; and examples of C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl.

The term “C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl”, or “C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkenyl” as used herein, denote a group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring compound having at least one carbon-carbon double, where the carbocyclic ring compound has from 3 to 8, or from 3 to 12, ring atoms, respectively. Examples of C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like; and examples of C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkenyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono- or bicyclic carbocyclic ring system having one or two aromatic rings including, but not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, indenyl and the like.

The term “arylalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a C₁-C₃ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkyl residue attached to an aryl ring. Examples include, but are not limited to, benzyl, phenethyl and the like.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono-, bi-, or tri-cyclic aromatic radical or ring having from five to ten ring atoms of which at least one ring atom is selected from S, O and N; wherein any N or S contained within the ring may be optionally oxidized. Heteroaryl includes, but is not limited to, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzooxazolyl, quinoxalinyl, and the like.

The term “heteroarylalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a C₁-C₃ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkyl residue attached to a heteroaryl ring. Examples include, but are not limited to, pyridinylmethyl, pyrimidinylethyl and the like.

The term “substituted” as used herein, refers to independent replacement of one, two, or three or more of the hydrogen atoms thereon with substituents including, but not limited to, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, protected hydroxyl, —NO₂, —CN, —NH₂, N₃, protected amino, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, oxo, -halo-C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, -halo-C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, -halo-C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, -halo-C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NH-aryl, —NH-heteroaryl, —NH-heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino, -diheteroarylamino, —O—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —O—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —O—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —O—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —O-aryl, —O-heteroaryl, —O-heterocycloalkyl, —C(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —C(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —C(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —C(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(O)-aryl, —C(O)-heteroaryl, —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —CONH₂, —CONH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —CONH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —CONH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —CONH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CONH-heteroaryl, —CONH-heterocycloalkyl, —OCO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —OCO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —OCO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —OCO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —OCO₂-aryl, —OCO₂-heteroaryl, —OCO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —OCONH₂, —OCONH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —OCONH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —OCONH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —OCONH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —OCONH-aryl, —OCONH-heteroaryl, —OCONH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)-aryl, —NHC(O)-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —NHCO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHCO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHCO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHCO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHCO₂-aryl, —NHCO₂-heteroaryl, —NHCO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH₂, —NHC(O)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH-aryl, —NHC(O)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH₂, —NHC(S)NH-alkyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(S)NH-aryl, —NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH₂, —NHC(NH)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH-aryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(NH)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)-aryl, —NHC(NH)-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)-heterocycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —C(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —C(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —C(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH-aryl, —C(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —C(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —S(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —S(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)-heteroaryl, —S(O)-heterocycloalkyl —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —SO₂NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —SO₂NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —SO₂NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —SO₂NH-aryl, —SO₂NH-heteroaryl, —SO₂NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHSO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHSO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHSO₂-aryl, —NHSO₂-heteroaryl, —NHSO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂SO₂CH₃, -aryl, -arylalkyl, -heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, —C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, —SH, —S—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —S—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —S—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —S—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S-aryl, —S-heteroaryl, —S-heterocycloalkyl, methylthiomethyl, or -L′—R′, wherein L′ is C₁-C₆alkylene, C₂-C₆alkenylene or C₂-C₆alkynylene, and R′ is aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂cycloalkenyl. It is understood that the aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls, and the like can be further substituted. In some cases, each substituent in a substituted moiety is additionally optionally substituted with one or more groups, each group being independently selected from —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —NO₂, —CN, or —NH₂. When there is at least two replacements of the hydrogen atoms with substituents, the two substitutents can be taken together to form a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or heterocyclic ring.

In accordance with the invention, any of the aryls, substituted aryls, heteroaryls and substituted heteroaryls described herein, can be any aromatic group. Aromatic groups can be substituted or unsubstituted.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group or a heterocyclic group. An “aliphatic group” is non-aromatic moiety that may contain any combination of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, oxygen, nitrogen or other atoms, and optionally contain one or more units of unsaturation, e.g., double and/or triple bonds. An aliphatic group may be straight chained, branched or cyclic and preferably contains between about 1 and about 24 carbon atoms, more typically between about 1 and about 12 carbon atoms. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, aliphatic groups include, for example, polyalkoxyalkyls, such as polyalkylene glycols, polyamines, and polyimines, for example. Such aliphatic groups may be further substituted. It is understood that aliphatic groups may be used in place of the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene groups described herein.

The term “alicyclic,” as used herein, denotes a group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound. Examples include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl. Such alicyclic groups may be further substituted.

The term “heterocycloalkyl” and “heterocyclic” can be used interchangeably and refer to a non-aromatic 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring or a bi- or tri-cyclic group fused system, where (i) each ring contains between one and three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, (ii) each 5-membered ring has 0 to 1 double bonds and each 6-membered ring has 0 to 2 double bonds, (iii) the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, (iv) the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, (v) any of the above rings may be fused to a benzene ring, and (vi) the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms which may be optionally oxo-substituted. Representative heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, [1,3]dioxolane, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinoxalinyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrahydrofuryl. Such heterocyclic groups may be further substituted to give substituted heterocyclic.

It will be apparent that in various embodiments of the invention, the substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl are intended to be monovalent or divalent. Thus, alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene, cycloaklylene, cycloalkenylene, cycloalkynylene, arylalkylene, hetoerarylalkylene and heterocycloalkylene groups are to be included in the above definitions, and are applicable to provide the formulas herein with proper valency.

The term “hydroxyl activating group”, as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to activate a hydroxyl group so that it will depart during synthetic procedures such as in a substitution or elimination reactions. Examples of hydroxyl activating group include, but not limited to, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate and the like.

The term “activated hydroxyl”, as used herein, refers to a hydroxyl group activated with a hydroxyl activating group, as defined above, including mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate groups, for example.

The term “protected hydroxyl,” as used herein, refers to a hydroxyl group protected with a hydroxyl protecting group, as defined above, including benzoyl, acetyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, methoxymethyl groups.

The terms “halo” and “halogen,” as used herein, refer to an atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)-, or as (D)- or (L)- for amino acids. The present invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as well as their racemic and optically pure forms. Optical isomers may be prepared from their respective optically active precursors by the procedures described above, or by resolving the racemic mixtures. The resolution can be carried out in the presence of a resolving agent, by chromatography or by repeated crystallization or by some combination of these techniques, which are known to those skilled in the art. Further details regarding resolutions can be found in Jacques, et al., Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (John Wiley & Sons, 1981). When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers. Likewise, all tautomeric forms are also intended to be included. The configuration of any carbon-carbon double bond appearing herein is selected for convenience only and is not intended to designate a particular configuration unless the text so states; thus a carbon-carbon double bond depicted arbitrarily herein as trans may be cis, trans, or a mixture of the two in any proportion.

The term “subject” as used herein refers to a mammal. A subject therefore refers to, for example, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, guinea pigs, and the like. Preferably the subject is a human. When the subject is a human, the subject may be referred to herein as a patient.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to those salts of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art.

The term “hydroxyl protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect a hydroxyl group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the hydroxyl protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Hydroxyl protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G., S. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of hydroxyl protecting groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxycarbonyl, 2-furfuryloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, formyl, chloroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl, methyl, t-butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2-trimethylsilyl ethyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, allyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyldiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tetrahydrofuryl, methoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, benzyloxymethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxymethyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl, methanesulfonyl, para-toluenesulfonyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, and the like. Preferred hydroxyl protecting groups for the present invention are acetyl (Ac or —C(O)CH₃), benzoyl (Bz or —C(O)C₆H₅), and trimethylsilyl (TMS or —Si(CH₃)₃). Berge, et al. describes pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19 (1977). The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or separately by reacting the free base function with a suitable organic acid. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, nontoxic acid addition salts e.g., salts of an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobronic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid or with organic acids such as acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methods used in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, adipate, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, p-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, sulfonate and aryl sulfonate.

The term “amino protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect an amino group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the amino protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Amino protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, t-butoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable ester” refers to esters of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which hydrolyze in vivo and include those that break down readily in the human body to leave the parent compound or a salt thereof. Suitable ester groups include, for example, those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic carboxylic acids, particularly alkanoic, alkenoic, cycloalkanoic and alkanedioic acids, in which each alkyl or alkenyl moiety advantageously has not more than 6 carbon atoms. Examples of particular esters include, but are not limited to, formates, acetates, propionates, butyrates, acrylates and ethylsuccinates.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs” as used herein refers to those prodrugs of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals with undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the present invention. “Prodrug”, as used herein means a compound, which is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to afford any compound delineated by the formulae of the instant invention. Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art, for example, as discussed in Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al., (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, vol. 4, Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al., (ed). “Design and Application of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development, Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991); Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug Deliver Reviews, 8:1-38 (1992); Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285 et seq. (1988); Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975); and Bernard Testa & Joachim Mayer, “Hydrolysis In Drug And Prodrug Metabolism: Chemistry, Biochemistry And Enzymology,” John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. (2002).

The term “acyl” includes residues derived from acids, including but not limited to carboxylic acids, carbamic acids, carbonic acids, sulfonic acids, and phosphorous acids. Examples include aliphatic carbonyls, aromatic carbonyls, aliphatic sulfonyls, aromatic sulfinyls, aliphatic sulfinyls, aromatic phosphates and aliphatic phosphates. Examples of aliphatic carbonyls include, but are not limited to, acetyl, propionyl, 2-fluoroacetyl, butyryl, 2-hydroxy acetyl, and the like.

The term “aprotic solvent,” as used herein, refers to a solvent that is relatively inert to proton activity, i.e., not acting as a proton-donor. Examples include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons, such as hexane and toluene, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, for example, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, and the like, heterocyclic compounds, such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran and N-methylpyrrolidinone, and ethers such as diethyl ether, bis-methoxymethyl ether. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of aprotic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

The terms “protogenic organic solvent” or “protic solvent” as used herein, refer to a solvent that tends to provide protons, such as an alcohol, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, t-butanol, and the like. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of protogenic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

Combinations of substituents and variables envisioned by this invention are only those that result in the formation of stable compounds. The term “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds which possess stability sufficient to allow manufacture and which maintains the integrity of the compound for a sufficient period of time to be useful for the purposes detailed herein (e.g., therapeutic or prophylactic administration to a subject).

The synthesized compounds can be separated from a reaction mixture and further purified by a method such as column chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, or recrystallization. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may be performed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desired compounds. In addition, the solvents, temperatures, reaction durations, etc. delineated herein are for purposes of illustration only and variation of the reaction conditions can produce the desired bridged macrocyclic products of the present invention. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein include, for example, those described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers (1989); T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2d. Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1991); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995).

The compounds of this invention may be modified by appending various functionalities via synthetic means delineated herein to enhance selective biological properties. Such modifications include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism and alter rate of excretion.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means a non-toxic, inert solid, semi-solid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil; safflower oil; sesame oil; olive oil; corn oil and soybean oil; glycols; such a propylene glycol; esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffer solutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the composition, according to the judgment of the formulator. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered to humans and other animals orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, or drops), buccally, or as an oral or nasal spray.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir, preferably by oral administration or administration by injection. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intraarterial, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.

Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions may be formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium prior to use.

In order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is often desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or: a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

The active compounds can also be in micro-encapsulated form with one or more excipients as noted above. The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings, release controlling coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. In such solid dosage forms the active compound may be admixed with at least one inert diluent such as sucrose, lactose or starch. Such dosage forms may also comprise, as is normal practice, additional substances other than inert diluents, e.g., tableting lubricants and other tableting aids such a magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage forms may also comprise buffering agents. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active component is admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required. Ophthalmic formulation, ear drops, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to an active compound of this invention, excipients such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to the compounds of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

Antiviral Activity

An inhibitory amount or dose of the compounds of the present invention may range from about 0.01 mg/Kg to about 500 mg/Kg, alternatively from about 1 to about 50 mg/Kg. Inhibitory amounts or doses will also vary depending on route of administration, as well as the possibility of co-usage with other agents.

According to the methods of treatment of the present invention, viral infections are treated or prevented in a subject such as a human or lower mammal by administering to the subject an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount or an inhibitory amount of a compound of the present invention, in such amounts and for such time as is necessary to achieve the desired result. An additional method of the present invention is the treatment of biological samples with an inhibitory amount of a compound of composition of the present invention in such amounts and for such time as is necessary to achieve the desired result.

The term “anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount” of a compound of the invention, as used herein, mean a sufficient amount of the compound so as to decrease the viral load in a biological sample or in a subject (e.g., resulting in at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 90% or 95%, reduction in viral load). As well understood in the medical arts, an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound of this invention will be at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable to any medical treatment.

The term “inhibitory amount” of a compound of the present invention means a sufficient amount to decrease the hepatitis C viral load in a biological sample or a subject (e.g., resulting in at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 90% or 95%, reduction in viral load). It is understood that when said inhibitory amount of a compound of the present invention is administered to a subject it will be at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable to any medical treatment as determined by a physician. The term “biological sample(s),” as used herein, means a substance of biological origin intended for administration to a subject. Examples of biological samples include, but are not limited to, blood and components thereof such as plasma, platelets, subpopulations of blood cells and the like; organs such as kidney, liver, heart, lung, and the like; sperm and ova; bone marrow and components thereof; or stem cells. Thus, another embodiment of the present invention is a method of treating a biological sample by contacting said biological sample with an inhibitory amount of a compound or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

Upon improvement of a subject's condition, a maintenance dose of a compound, composition or combination of this invention may be administered, if necessary. Subsequently, the dosage or frequency of administration, or both, may be reduced, as a function of the symptoms, to a level at which the improved condition is retained when the symptoms have been alleviated to the desired level, treatment should cease. The subject may, however, require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrence of disease symptoms.

It will be understood, however, that the total daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgment. The specific inhibitory dose for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder; the activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or coincidental with the specific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The total daily inhibitory dose of the compounds of this invention administered to a subject in single or in divided doses can be in amounts, for example, from 0.01 to 50 mg/kg body weight or more usually from 0.1 to 25 mg/kg body weight. Single dose compositions may contain such amounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose. In general, treatment regimens according to the present invention comprise administration to a patient in need of such treatment from about 10 mg to about 1000 mg of the compound(s) of this invention per day in single or multiple doses.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein are accorded the meaning commonly known to one with ordinary skill in the art. All publications, patents, published patent applications, and other references mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations which have been used in the descriptions of the schemes and the examples that follow are:

-   -   ACN for acetonitrile;     -   BME for 2-mercaptoethanol;     -   BOP for benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium         hexafluorophosphate;     -   COD for cyclooctadiene;     -   DAST for diethylaminosulfur trifluoride;     -   DABCYL for         6-(N-4′-carboxy-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene)-aminohexyl-1-O-(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)-phosphoramidite;     -   DCM for dichloromethane;     -   DIAD for diisopropyl azodicarboxylate;     -   DIBAL-H for diisobutylaluminum hydride;     -   DIEA for diisopropyl ethylamine;     -   DMAP for N,N-dimethylaminopyridine;     -   DME for ethylene glycol dimethyl ether;     -   DMEM for Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Media;     -   DMF for N,N-dimethyl formamide;     -   DMSO for dimethylsulfoxide;     -   DUPHOS for

-   -   EDANS for 5-(2-Amino-ethylamino)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid;     -   EDCI or EDC for 1-(3-diethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide         hydrochloride;     -   EtOAc for ethyl acetate;     -   HATU for O         (7-Azabenzotriazole-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium         hexafluorophosphate;     -   Hoveyda's Cat. for Dichloro(o-isopropoxyphenylmethylene)         (tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium(II);     -   KHMDS is potassium bis(trimethylsilyl) amide;     -   Ms for mesyl;     -   NMM for N-4-methylmorpholine;     -   PyBrOP for Bromo-tri-pyrrolidino-phosphonium         hexafluorophosphate;     -   Ph for phenyl;     -   RCM for ring-closing metathesis;     -   RT for reverse transcription;     -   RT-PCR for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction;     -   TEA for triethyl amine;     -   TFA for trifluoroacetic acid;     -   THF for tetrahydrofuran;     -   TLC for thin layer chromatography;     -   TPP or PPh₃ for triphenylphosphine;     -   tBOC or Boc for tert-butyloxy carbonyl; and     -   Xantphos for         4,5-Bis-diphenylphosphanyl-9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene.

Synthetic Methods

The present invention also includes synthetic methods and processes for making compounds of formula I. The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following synthetic schemes that illustrate the methods by which the compounds of the invention may be prepared, which are intended as an illustration only and not to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Three general synthetic strategies are used to construct the macrocyclic core structure of formula I. They are intramolecular cross-coupling ring closure reaction, intramolecular alkylation or Mitsunobu ring closure reaction and intramolecular amide formation ring closure reaction.

The synthesis of macrocyclic ring 1-2 via intramolecular cross-coupling reaction is shown in Scheme 1. The precursor 1-1 (where X is a leaving group, such as a halogen, mesylate, tosylate or triflate and Ar¹ and Ar² are aryl or heteroaryl rings) closes the macrocyclic ring in the presence of transition metal such as palladium derivates, a ligand and a base. For a similar smaller ring (5 to 7 membered) closure reaction, see Karen E. Torraca, Shin-Itsu Kuwab, Stephen L. Buchwald, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 12907-12908.

The macrocyclic core 1-2 can also be prepared from intramolecular alkylation or Mituonobu reaction of the precursor 2-1, as shown in Scheme 2. Y is a leaving group, such as a halogen, mesylate, tosylate or triflate when the intramolecular alkylation conditions are used. Y is hydroxyl group for the intramolecular Mitunobu reaction.

The intramolecular amide formation strategy is shown in Scheme 3. The precursor amino acid 3-1 is subjected to normal coupling reagents such as HATU/DIPEA, giving the desired macrocyclic ring 1-2.

The synthesis of macrocyclic ring precursor 1-1 is exemplified in Scheme 4. Commercially available cis-Boc-hydroxyproline methyl ester 4-1 was coupled with bromobiaryl derivative 4-2 under Mitsunobu conditions giving compound 4-3. Attachment at the carbonyl oxygen was observed to form the desired compound. For further details on the Mitsunobu reaction, see O. Mitsunobu, Synthesis 1981, 1-28; D. L. Hughes, Org. React. 29, 1-162 (1983); D. L. Hughes, Organic Preparations and Procedures Int. 28, 127-164 (1996); and J. A. Dodge, S. A. Jones, Recent Res. Dev. Org. Chem. 1, 273-283 (1997). Compound 4-3 can also be prepared by converting 4-1 to the corresponding mesylate derivative and the subsequent reaction with 4-2. Alternatively, compound 4-3 is prepared from commercially available trans-Boc-hydroxyproline 4-1a by the alkylation with bromobiaryl chloride 4-2a (which can be prepared from 4-2) in the presence of a base, followed by the methylation (using a methylating agent such as TMSCHN₂). Deprotection of 4-3 using acid such as HCl gave the corresponding amine 4-4. Coupling of the amine 4-4 with the carbamate aminoacid 4-5 (for the preparation of the carbamate aminoacid derivatives see Scheme xx) afforded the desired macrocyclic ring precursor 4-6 (an example of general structure 1-1).

The synthesis of macrocyclic ring precursor 2-1 is exemplified in Scheme 5. The protected biaryl derivative (P is a protecting group) is converted to alcohol 5-2 following the same synthetic methods described in Scheme 4. Removing the protecting group P gives 5-3 (an example of structure 2-1). Conversion of hydroxyl group to the corresponding halide or sulfonate (mesylate, tosylate or triflate) followed by the deprotection yields 5-3 (an example of structure 2-1).

The synthesis of macrocyclic ring precursor 3-1 is exemplified in Scheme 6. Alcohol 6-1 and phenol derivative 6-2 can be made following the similar chemistry described in Scheme 5. Compound 6-1 reacts with isocyanate 6-2 giving directly the protected amino acid 6-4. Deprotection of 6-4 results in the macrocylic ring precursor amino acid 6-5 (an example of structure 3-1). Alternatively, the protected amino acid 6-4 can be prepared from 6-1a coupling with 6-3 (Y=OH for Mitsunobu coupling; Y=halogen, mesylate, or triflate for alkylation reaction; P is protecting group or hydrogen).

The preparation of carbamate amino acids 4-5 is shown in Scheme 7. Alcohol 7-1 (L is a direct bond, alkylene or substituted alkylene group; P′ is hydrogen or a protecting group) reacts with isocyanate 7-2 (P is methyl, t-butyl or other protecting groups) in presence of a base followed by deprotection (if P′ is a protection group) to give the protected amino acid 7-3. Deprotection of 7-3 yields the corresponding amino acid 7-4 (general structure of compound 4-5). Alternatively, alcohol 7-1 reacts with amino acid 7-2a in presence of phosgene or CDI and base (followed by deprotection if P′ is a protecting group) gives directly aminoacid 7-4.

The syntheses of macrocyclic compounds as HCV protease inhibitors are exemplified in Scheme 8. Hydrolysis of macrocyclic core compound 8-1 gave the corresponding carboxylic acid 8-2, which was coupled with amino sulfonamide 8-4 using normal coupling reagents such as HATU/DIPEA to afford macrocyclic compound 8-6. Carboxylic acid can react be coupled with amino acid ester derivative 8-3 to give the corresponding ester derivative, which is hydrolyzed to yield carboxylic acid 8-5. Compound 8-6 can also be prepared by reacting 8-5 with cyclopropylsulfonamide in the presence of CDI/DBU or other coupling reagents.

All references cited herein, whether in print, electronic, computer readable storage media or other form, are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety, including but not limited to, abstracts, articles, journals, publications, texts, treatises, internet web sites, databases, patents, and patent publications.

EXAMPLES

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following examples, which are intended as an illustration only and not to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, formulations and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1

Compound of Formula XII, wherein

To a mixture of compound 1a-1 (0.53 g, 2.37 mmol), 3-bromophenylboric acid (0.48 g, 2.37 mmol), toluene (15 ml), ethanol (2 ml) and aq. K2CO3 (2M, 7 ml, 14 mmol) was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (164 mg, 6% eq.). The resulting mixture was stirred at 90-95° C. for 15 h, cooled to room temperature, extracted with dichloromethane (2×). The combined organic layers were washed with water, dried (Na2SO4), concentrated and crystallized from EtOAc to give 1a as a white solid (0.5 g). Mother liquid was concentrated to give less pure desired product (0.3 g).

To a mixture of 1a (0.48 g, 1.6 mmol), Boc-L-cis-hydroxyproline methyl ester (0.432 g, 1.76 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (0.839 g, 3.2 mmol) in THF at room temperature as added dropwise DIAD (0.62 ml, 3.2 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature. After 18 hours, the mixture was concentrated under vacuum and the residue was purified by chromatography (EtOAc/Hexanes=0% to 15% to 40%) to give 1b (0.665 g). MS (ESI): m/e 526.87, 528.92 (M+H).

A solution of compound 1b (1.25 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 ml) was treated with 4M HCl/dioxane 5 ml, 20 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, and concentrated in vacuo to dryness to afford HCl salt of compound 1c (100%). MS (ESI): m/e 376.15 (M+H).

To a solution of compound 1d-1 (1.046 g, 5.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 ml) at 0° C. was added pyridine (2.23 ml), followed by dropwise addition of phosgene solution (in toluene, 20% wt., 4.4 ml, 8.3 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h, diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1N HCl, brine, dried (sodium sulfate) and concentrated to dryness to afford 1d (0.95 g).

To a solution of compound 1d (0.228 g, 1.33 mmol) and 1e-1 (1.4 g, 13.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 ml)-DMF (2 ml) at room temperature was added DBU (0.3 ml, 2.18 mmo). The mixture was stirred at rt for 16 h, diluted with EtOAc, washed with water, brine twice, 1N HCl, brine, dried (sodium sulfate) and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel flash chromatography using gradient elution (EtOAc/Hexane 0% to 30%) to yield compound 1e (0.303 g).

To a solution of compound 1e (0.255 g, 0.93 mmol) in THF/MeOH (6 ml/2.6 ml) at 0° C. was lithium hydroxide hydrate (0.195 g, 4.6 mmol), followed by water (2.6 ml). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h, placed at 0° C., 1N HCl was added dropwise until the mixture's pH=˜3. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc three times. the combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 1f (0.227 g).

To a solution of 1c (0.62 mmol), 1f (1.1 eq.) and DIPEA (0.54 ml, Seq.) in DMF (5 ml) at 0° C. was added in portions HATU (0.283 g, 1.2 eq). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h, diluted with EtOAc, washed with water once, brine four times. The organic phase was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/Hexane 0% to 40%) to afford 1g (0.331 g). MS (ESI); m/z 669.88, 671.87 (M+H).

A mixture of compound 1g (0.25 g, 0.347 mmol), cesium carbonate (0.283 g, 0.868 mmol) and toluene (22 ml) was purged with nitrogen for 5 min. Palladium acetate (20 mg, 0.087 mmol) and ligand 1 h-1 (43 mg, 0.11 mmol) were added. The mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 24 h, cooled to rt, filtered, washed with EtOAc and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/Hexane 0% to 25% to 40%) to afford 1 h (78 g). MS (ESI); m/z 590.27 (M+H).

To a solution of compound 1h (78 mg, 0.132 mmol) in THF/MeOH (4 ml/2 ml) was added 1N lithium hydroxide (2 ml, 2 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Most organic solvents were evaporated in vacuo, and the resulting residue was diluted with water and acidified to pH 3 to 4. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc three times. The combined organic extracts were dried (Na2SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 1i (100%). MS (ESI): m/z 790.12 (M+H).

To a solution of 1i (0.022 mmol), compound 1j (0.03 mmol) and DIPEA (0.025 ml, 0.14 mmol) in DMF (1 ml) at 0° C. was added HATU (12 mg, 0.032 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h, diluted with EtOAc and washed with half-sat.-aq. NaCl four times. The organic phase was dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered, and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC to afford compound example 1 (16 mg). MS (ESI): m/z 790.12 (M+H).

Example 2

Compound of Formula XII, wherein

The title compound was prepared from compounds 1i and 2-1 by the same procedures as described in Example 1 step 1J. MS (ESI): m/z 812.06 (M+H).

Example 3

Compound of Formula XII, wherein

The title compound was prepared from compounds 1i and 3-1 by the same procedures as described in Example 1 step 1J. MS (ESI): m/z 788.10 (M+H).

Examples 4 to 918, compounds of Formula XII in Table 1, are made following the procedures described in Examples 1 to 3 and the Synthetic Methods section.

The compounds of the present invention exhibit potent inhibitory properties against the HCV NS3 protease.

The compounds of the invention can be tested for anti-HCV effects using methods known in the art. Suitable methods include the NS3/NS4a protease enzyme assay and cell-based replicon assays described in WO 2009/073719, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein A is absent or selected from —(C═O)—, —S(O)₂, —C═N—OR₁ and —C(═N—CN); Z₂₀₁ is absent or selected from —C₁-C₈ alkylene, —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, or —C₂-C₈ alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkylene, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynylene, each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene, each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl; M is absent or selected from O, S, SO, SO₂ or NR₁; L₁₀₁ is absent or selected from —C₁-C₈ alkylene, —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, or —C₂-C₈ alkynylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkylene, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenylene, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynylene, each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylene, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylene, each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; V is absent or selected from O, S, S(O), S(O)₂ or NR₁; wherein R₁ is selected at each occurrence from the group consisting of: (i) hydrogen; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; Z₁₀₁ is selected from aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl; R and R′ are each independently selected from the group consisting of: (i) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl, each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkyl, or substituted —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₄-C₁₂ alkylcycloalkenyl; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and (iv) hydrogen; deuterium; G is selected from —OH, —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, and NR₃R₄; R₂ is selected from: (i) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (ii) heterocycloalkyl; substituted heterocycloalkyl; and (iii) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N, substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; heterocylic; substituted heterocyclic; R₃ and R₄ are independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; heterocyclic, or substitututed heterocyclic; alternatively, R₃ and R₄ are taken together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic;

Q₁ is: (i) hydrogen; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; Q₂ is: (i) hydrogen, halogen, CN, CF₃, N₃, NO₂, OR₁, SR₁, SO₂R₂, —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, NR₃R₄, CO₂R₁, COR₁, CONR₁R₂, N(R₁)COR₂; where R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as previously defined; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; or Q₁ and Q₂, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a carbocyclic moiety or a heterocyclic moiety; and Q₃ and Q₄ are each independently: (i) hydrogen, halogen, CN, CF₃, N₃, NO₂, OR₁, SR₁, SO₂R₂, —NHS(O)₂—R₂, —NH(SO₂)NR₃R₄, NR₃R₄, CO₂R₁, COR₁, CONR₁R₂, N(R₁)COR₂; where R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as previously defined; (ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (iii) heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms wherein each heteroatom is O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; or Q₃ and Q₄, taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a carbocyclic moiety or a heterocyclic moiety.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein Q₁, Q₂, R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula IV:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, where X₁-X₄ are independently selected from —CR₅ and N, wherein R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R₃, R₄, R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula V:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, where Y₁-Y₃ are independently selected from CR₅, N, NR₅, S and O; wherein each R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula VI:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, where R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁, Q₁, Q₂ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula VII:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein X₁-X₄ are independently selected from —CR₅ and N, wherein each R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula VIII:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein Y₁-Y₃ are independently selected from CR₅, N, NR₅, S and O; wherein each R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula IX:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein Q₃, Q₄, R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 9. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula X:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein X₁-X₄ are independently selected from —CR₅ and N, wherein each R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 10. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of Formula XI:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof, wherein Y₁-Y₃ are independently selected from CR₅, N, NR₅, S and O; wherein each R₅ is independently selected from: (i) hydrogen; halogen; —NO₂; —CN; N₃; CF₃; (ii) -M-R₄, M is O, S, NH; (iii) NR₃R₄; (iv) —C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N; substituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, or substituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl each containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl; —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, or substituted —C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl; (v) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl; (vi) heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl; and R, R′, A, Z₂₀₁, M, L₁₀₁, V, Z₁₀₁ and G are as defined in claim
 1. 11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
 12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, further comprising a second anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) agent.
 13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12, wherein the second anti-HCV agent is selected from interferon, ribavirin, amantadine, another HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an HCV helicase inhibitor, or an internal ribosome entry site inhibitor.
 14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, further comprising pegylated interferon.
 15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, further comprising another anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or anti-cancer agent, or an immune modulator.
 16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, further comprising a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 16, wherein the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor is ritonavir.
 18. A compound which is selected from compounds of Formula XII wherein R, M-L, Ar², Ar¹ and G are set forth for each compound in Table 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

TABLE 1 Example # R M-L Ar² Ar¹ R′ G
 1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.

OH
 8.


9.


10.


11.


12.


13.


14.


15.


16.


17.


18.


19.


20.


21.


22.


23.


24.


25.


26.


27.


28.


29.


30.


31.


32.

OH
 33.


34.


35.


36.


37.


38.


39.


40.


41.


42.


43.


44.


45.


46.


47.


48.


49.


50.


51.


52.


53.


54.


55.


56.


57.


58.


59.


60.

OH
 61.


62.


63.


64.


65.


66.


67.


68.


69.


70.


71.


72.


73.


74.


75.


76.


77.


78.


79.


80.


81.


82.


83.


84.


85.


86.


87.


88.


89.


90.


91.


92.


93.


94.

OH
 95.


96.


97.


98.


99.


100.


101.


102.


103.


104.


105.


106.


107.


108.


109.


110.


111.


112.


113.


114.


115.


116.


117.


118.


119.

OH
 120.


121.


122.


123.


124.


125.


126.


127.


128.


129.


130.


131.


132.


133.


134.


135.


136.


137.


138.


139.


140.


141.


142.


143.


144.


145.


146.


147.

OH
 148.


149.


150.


151.


152.


153.


154.


155.


156.


157.


158.


159.


160.


161.


162.


163.


164.


165.


166.


167.


168.


169.


170.


171.


172.


173.


174.


175.


176.


177.


178.


179.


180.


181.

OH
 182.


183.


184.


185.


186.


187.


188.


189.


190.


191.


192.


193.


194.


195.


196.


197.


198.


199.


200.


201.


202.


203.


204.


205.


206.

OH
 207.


208.


209.


210.


211.


212.


213.


214.


215.


216.


217.


218.


219.


220.


221.


222.


223.


224.


225.


226.


227.


228.


229.


230.


231.


232.


233.


234.

OH
 235.


236.


237.


238.


239.


240.


241.


242.


243.


244.


245.


246.


247.


248.


249.


250.


251.


252.


253.


254.


255.


256.


257.


258.


259.


260.


261.


262.


263.


264.


265.


266.


267.


268.

OH
 269.


270.


271.


272.


273.


274.


275.


276.


277.


278.


279.


280.


281.


282.


283.


284.


285.


286.


287.


288.


289.


290.


291.


292.


293.

+OH
 294.


295.


296.


297.


298.


299.


300.


301.


302.


303.


304.


305.


306.


307.


308.


309.


310.


311.


312.


313.


314.


315.


316.


317.


318.


319.


320.


321.

OH
 322.


323.


324.


325.


326.


327.


328.


329.


330.


331.


332.


333.


334.


335.


336.


337.


338.


339.


340.


341.


342.


343.


344.


345.


346.


347.


348.


349.


350.


351.


352.


353.


354.


355.

OH
 356.


357.


358.


359.


360.


361.


362.


363.


364.


365.


366.


367.


368.


369.


370.


371.


372.


373.


374.


375.


376.


377.


378.


379.


380.

OH
 381.


382.


383.


384.


385.


386.


387.


388.


389.


390.


391.


392.


393.


394.


395.


396.


397.


398.


399.


400.


401.


402.


403.


404.


405.


406.


407.


408.

OH
 409.


410.


411.


412.


413.


414.


415.


416.


417.


418.


419.


420.


421.


422.


423.


424.


425.


426.


427.


428.


429.


430.


431.


432.


433.


434.


435.


436.


437.


438.


439.


440.


441.


442.

OH
 443.


444.


445.


446.


447.


448.


449.


450.


451.


452.


453.


454.


455.


456.


457.


458.


459.


460.


461.


462.


463.


464.


465.


466.


467.

OH
 468.


469.


470.


471.


472.


473.


474.


475.


476.


477.


478.


479.


480.


481.


482.


483.


484.


485.


486.


487.


488.


489.


490.


491.


492.


493.


494.


495.

OH
 496.


497.


498.


499.


500.


501.


502.


503.


504.


505.


506.


507.


508.


509.


510.


511.


512.


513.


514.


515.


516.


517.


518.


519.


520.


521.


522.


523.

OH
 524.

OH
 525.

OH
 526.

OH
 527.

OH
 528.

OH
 529.


530.


531.


532.


533.


534.


535.


536.


537.


538.


539.


540.


541.


542.


543.


544.


545.


546.


547.

Absent


548.

Absent


549.

Absent


550.

Absent


551.

Absent


552.

Absent


553.

Absent


554.

Absent


555.

Absent


556.

Absent


557.

Absent


558.

Absent


559.

Absent


560.

Absent


561.

Absent


562.

Absent


563.

Absent


564.

Absent


565.

Absent


566.

Absent


567.

Absent


568.

Absent


569.

Absent


570.

Absent


571.

Absent


572.

Absent


573.

Absent


574.

Absent


575.

Absent


576.

Absent


577.

Absent


578.

Absent


579.

Absent


580.

Absent


581.

Absent


582.

Absent


583.

Absent


584.

Absent


585.

Absent


586.

Absent


587.

Absent


588.

Absent


589.

Absent


590.

Absent


591.

Absent


592.

Absent


593.

Absent


594.

Absent


595.

Absent


596.

Absent


597.

Absent


598.

Absent


599.

Absent


600.

Absent


601.

Absent


602.

Absent


603.

Absent


604.

Absent


605.

Absent


606.

Absent


607.

Absent


608.

Absent


609.

Absent


610.

Absent


611.

Absent


612.

Absent


613.

Absent


614.

Absent


615.

Absent


616.

Absent


617.

Absent


618.

Absent


619.

Absent


620.

Absent


621.

Absent


622.

Absent


623.

Absent


624.

Absent


625.

Absent


626.

Absent


627.


628.


629.


630.


631.


632.


633.


634.


635.


636.


637.


638.


639.


640.


641.


642.


643.


644.


645.


646.


647.


648.


649.


650.


651.


652.


653.


654.


655.


656.


657.


658.


659.

Absent


660.

Absent


661.

Absent


662.

Absent


663.

Absent


664.

Absent


665.

Absent


666.

Absent


667.

Absent


668.

Absent


669.

Absent


670.

Absent


671.

Absent


672.

Absent


673.

Absent


674.

Absent


675.

Absent


676.

Absent


677.

Absent


678.

Absent


679.

Absent


680.

Absent


681.

Absent


682.

Absent


683.

Absent


684.

Absent


685.

Absent


686.

Absent


687.

Absent


688.

Absent


689.

Absent


690.

Absent


691.

Absent


692.

Absent


693.

Absent


694.

Absent


695.

Absent


696.

Absent


697.

Absent


698.

Absent


699.

Absent


700.

Absent


701.

Absent


702.

Absent


703.

Absent


704.

Absent


705.

Absent


706.

Absent


707.

Absent


708.

Absent


709.

Absent


710.

Absent


711.

Absent


712.

Absent


713.

Absent


714.

Absent


715.

Absent


716.

Absent


717.

Absent


718.

Absent


719.

Absent

720

Absent


721.

Absent


722.

Absent


723.

Absent


724.

Absent


725.

Absent


726.

Absent


727.

Absent


728.

Absent


729.

Absent


730.

Absent


731.

Absent


732.

Absent


733.

Absent


734.

Absent


735.

Absent


736.

Absent


737.

Absent


738.

Absent


739.

Absent


740.

Absent


741.

Absent


742.

Absent


743.

Absent


744.

Absent


745.

Absent


746.

Absent


747.

Absent


748.

Absent


749.

Absent


750.

Absent


751.

Absent


752.

Absent


753.

Absent


754.

Absent


755.

Absent


756.

Absent


757.

Absent


758.

Absent


759.

Absent


760.

Absent


761.

Absent


762.

Absent


763.


764.


765.


766.


767.


768.


769.


770.


771.


772.


773.


774.


775.


776.


777.


778.


779.


780.


781.


782.


783.


784.


785.


786.


787.


788.


789.


790.


791.


792.


793.


794.


795.

Absent


796.

Absent


797.

Absent


798.

Absent


799.

Absent


800.

Absent


801.

Absent


802.

Absent


803.

Absent


804.

Absent


805.

Absent


806.

Absent


807.

Absent


808.

Absent


809.

Absent


810.

Absent


811.

Absent


812.

Absent


813.

Absent


814.

Absent


815.

Absent


816.

Absent


817.

Absent


818.

Absent


819.


820.


821.


822.


823.


824.


825.


826.


827.


828.


829.


830.


831.


832.


833.


834.


835.


836.


837.


838. 